Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 27th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 26th Apr 26 at
3:58PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Morning showers and fog Scottish Highlands, showers trending eastward, heavier afternoon. Dry morning England and Wales, little hill cloud, then heavy afternoon showers, frequent and locally torrential over the Pennines with a risk of lightning. Little wind, but gusty around afternoon showers, deteriorating into night.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Early fog improving; turning showery, risk heavy afternoon
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 10-15mph, trending northerly time. Wind may ease somewhat, but notable gusts occurring near showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though occasional inconvenient gusts over high terrain and later around showers.
How Wet?
Showers and drizzle, risk heavy later
Showers come and go most of the day, drizzly on the high tops in fog even between showers. Showers will increase in frequency with a rising risk of heavy bursts too.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, breaks for a time
Most terrain above 900m shrouded in the morning, cloud most extensive north and east at first, to 600m. Bases lift to mostly above 1000m, breaks forming for a time, but then returning more frequently afternoon, particularly east where bases may lower towards 900m during showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun. Variable visibility, poor in cloud and rain but excellent during breaks.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 7C, or 8C Drumochter to Braemar. Northern Cairngorm slopes stay cooler, then suddenly cooling near afternoon showers.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 28th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 26th Apr 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Any rain unlikely
Small chance of odd spots of light rain in the east early in the day, but likely entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Rising to or above summits
Fairly extensive on high terrain from dawn, lowest on eastern and northern slopes. Highest tops may be close to top of cloud layer at dawn. Fog lifts after sunrise, largely above the summits, but a chance of returning above 1000m south and east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine through high cloud, trending sunnier with time. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, rising up to 12C around Drumochter, 9 or 10C far east.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 29th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 26th Apr 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly, some variability, 10mph, often less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little or none
Patchy mist in glens and corries from dawn, locally thicker layers of fog south Cairngorms. Soon lifting and dissipating for cloud-free Munros.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Widely sunny. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10 to 12C, always mildest northern Cairngorm slopes.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A core of high pressure lingers northeast of Scotland well into the week. The weather will be mostly sunny but also windy, particularly in Wales and the southern Pennines; challenging conditions are likely for several days on high Welsh mountains, powerful gusts over tops and downslope to the west requiring great effort to maintain stability. Despite Monday showers, dry ground conditions, warm temperatures, and wind bring a high risk of wildfire. More settled in Scotland, though breezy in the west, most hill cloud in the east. Detail becomes uncertain into next weekend, but a rising risk of showers and longer spells of rain as pressure begins to drop.